Safety-razor.



' K. c, GILLETTB.

SAFETY RAZOR.

A'PPLxcATIoN rtLsn 111.5651904".

Patented sept. 22, 1914.

Y iode-2462 KING C. GILLETTE, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY-RAZOR.

Speoication of Letters Patent.

Application led March 6, 1905. Serial No. 248.505.

Patented sept. 22, 1914.

To all whom vit may concern Be it known that I, KING C. (iiLLEr'rn, acitizen of the United States, nd resident of Brookline, in the count ofNorfolk and State ot' Massachusetts, liaveinvented new and usefulImprovements inSafety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is intended'fI to provide a simple,practical andinexpensive safety razor, and the nature and advantages of myimprovements will clearly appeal' from the ensuing description.

In the accompanying drawin s. Figure l is a plan view ot the head or blae end of one torni of my razor. Fig. 2 is a side'elevation thereof,partly in section, looking in the d1- rcction of the length of theblade, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation ot' the same parts as viewed fromthe right in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectionA showing amoditied construction, and Fig. 5 is a sldelglevation of the handleportion of another modified construction. Figs. 6 and 7 show stillanother modification, viewed from the same directions as in Figs. 2 and3 respectively. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view showing a modifiedconstruction of the head of the razor. j

The blade 2 of my razor may be of any usual or desired construction, butis preferably made of sheet steel of'uniforin thickness and sharpened atboth of its longitudinal edges to provide two ,pposite cutting edges 33. The handle member or holder comprises two similar parts or halves4%1, which are connected at a distance from the blade-engaging devicesof the razor in such manner as to swing toward and away from each other.Said holder is preferably stamped from a sino'le piece of sheet metalcut to form the two ialves of a head portion barinI substantially thelength of the razor blade. and to have a less widthbetween said headportion. so that when the blank is bent midway between its ends to bringthe two halves o the head into opposed relation to cach other thenarrower portions of the blank will i'orm the handle proper. The corrfiguration given to the holder in its complete form may be asrepresented in Figs. :2 and El, in which the two halves` of the head arehewn as bent or bowed outwardly or away from each other to provide aspace between hem of sutiicient width to receive the blade L,theportions which forni the handle being slightly curved transversely inorder tfo give the handle a rounded exterior surace.

At the blade end of the razor each of the two halves of the holder isprovided with devices for securing and positioning the blade, whichdevices preferably consist of lugs 5 -formed integral with thc holderand bent inward in such manner as to ovcrlie and engage the outersurface of the blade when placed in position and hohl it in contact withsuitable hearing surfaces located on the opposite or inner side of theblade, such for example as are provided by the guard teeth hereinafterdescribed. In the constructions illustrated in the drawings said lugs 5are located at points correspondin to the normal position of the cornerso the .blade 2 and are bent diagonally inward, said corners beingrounded as at 6 to engage said lugs. rthis rounding of the corners ofthe blade preferably extends far enough to include a portion of each endof each cutting edge, thus preventing the blade from having any sharpcorners which might be liable to in jure the skin of the user.

7--7 represent guard teleth of the usual shape. extending in seribetween the lugs 5 on the corresponding side of the holder in positionto overlie the adjacent cutting edge of the blade, from which they curveaway in the usual manner. These uard teeth also may be'formed integralwit the holder, and in case a double-edged blade is employed said teethwill ordinarily be providedy at cach side of the head or blade end ofsaid holder, in' which case the two halves of the holder may be madeexactly alike and given a symmetrical contour. The diagonally-bcnt lugs5 will evidently act not only io hold the blade against the guard teethbut also as stopsto determine the proper adjustment of the. cutting edgeor edges of the razor with respect to said ,guard teeth, by preventingany movement. of the blade either laterallv or in an' endwise direction.

Vln order to hold the blade firmly in place, means are provided forcausing the two halves of the holder to approach each other with sonicdegree ol' force, and this may be done in a very simple manner by merelytempering the handle end of the holder toa snllicient extent to give ita spring action, the spring pressure being operative in such dirertionand to such an extent as to cause the holding devices for the blade tomove toward each other, when permitted to do so, until they areseparated by a distance less than the width of the blade. This is theconstruction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and in this case the blade isreleased by merely forcing the two portions of the holder away from eachother until, the blade is free from the retaining lugs 5, and isinserted in a similar manner.

Inasnnich the function of the spring action in the holder shown in 2 isto hold the retaining lugs firmly in engagement with the blade, it willbe evident that this spring action may be replaced by other means foraccomplishing the same result, in which case the bend at the end of thehandle will merely need to be flexible, so as to serve as a hinge. Thusin Fig. 4, I have shown the two halves SWS of the handle proper asHatand as receding slightly'from each other as they approach the head ofthe razor, said handle being surrounded by a sleeve 9 adapted to slidelengthwise thereon and the arraiyLfement being such that as said sleeveis slid toward the head of 'the device the tWO parts of the holder willbe made to approach each other to a sull'icient extent to grasp theblade as above described.

ln Figs. l and T a similar arrangement is shown in which the sleeve 9 isreplaced by a pin 10 having heads 1l at its ends and arranged to slidein alined longitudinally-extending slotsl l2 formed in the two portionsot the handle, the desired closing pressure being applied to saidportions of the handle by the heads of the pin l() as the latter isinm'ed away from the outer end of the handie. in this construction, aswell as in that shown in Fig. 4, it will be convenient to provide t'or aspring action at the free end of the handle which will tend to separate.the two halves of the head, so that when the .sleeve il or headed pinl0, as the rase may he, is moved outward on the handle. thc two halvesof the handle will autonial ically separate.

ln Fig. 5 l have shown a handle 13 4in .hich the spring action at itsfree end tends to close the two halves of the head `upon the blade, oneportion of this handle being prmided with a threaded perforation inwhich is, h aled a tlnnnh screw lst adapted to bear upon the oppositeportion of the handle, .so that by turning said screw the tno portionsot the handle may be posilivelyv .separated and held the removal orinsertion of a blade.

The blade of my razor may have but one cutting edge, if preferred, andin such case the guard teeth on one portion of the head `of the razormay be omitted. Such a construction is 'shown in Ffig. 8, in which arazor blade of the ordinary concave type is Shown at l5, that side oft-he holder 16 which grasps the rear or thick edge of the blade beingprovided with one or more lugs 17 havin a suiliciently increased lengthto accmmo ate the greater thickness of the blade at this edge. It willbe evident that a blade having two cutting edges could be used with aholder having guard teeth on but one of its halves only, in which caseit would be necessary to reverse the blade in order to utili'ze both ofits cutting edges.

It will be seen that in each of the constructions illustrated the endsof the blade are freely exposed iii convenient position to be grasped bythe user when inserting or removing the blade, and that after the bladehas been removed the holder may be cleaned with the utmost facility. Itis to be understood however, that my invention is not limited to thesespecific constructions, or any of them.

I claim as my invention:

l. ln a safety razor the combination of a rectangular blade having twocutting edges and suitable end portions, a rectangular holder havingr apair of upwardly projecting lugs for each end of the blade, the membersof each pair of lugs being separated or spaced apart to receive andembrace an end portion of the blade between them, to preventdisplacement of thc blade in all directions in the plane thereof, saidupstanding lugs being disposed substantially at the four corners of theholder and blade, a guard for the cutting edge in use, a handle on thebottoni of the holder, and means bearing upon the upper surface of theblade to hold it fixed from displacement upon the holder.

2. In a. safety razor the combination t a rectangular blade having tivocutting edges and suitable end portions providing additional lransverseand longitudinal edges, a. holder for the blade comprising a handle, ablade seat upon said handle, a pair of up standing lugs at each end ofthe blade seat engaging the said transverse and longitudr. nal edges ofthe blade, a guard for the cutting edge or edges, and means bearing uponthe upper surface cf the blade to hold it fixed from displacement uponthe. holder.

B. In a safety raor, a holder for a double edged blade comprising ahandle having two sides, the two sides being resilient and joinedtogether at one end, and a frame having two sides, the inner edges ofsaid apart to facilitate l sides being joined each to a free end of thehandle. the outer edges: opposite and parallel to the said inneredgesvhaving each a row ot teeth for :seating the' edges of the bladethereon. lips formed on the corners Afior grippingr the. blade`the'distance between diere-ut lips ou opposite sides of the frame whenthe blade is removed therelfrom vbeing ol' diifereut dimension than theWidth of the blade, and means operating the handle for adjusting .tlieframe to bring the lips' in springfprerssed.engagen'ient with theblade'.

4.' In a safetrrazoiz. a holder for 'a double-edged blade, comprising ahandle having,r

twoA sides, the two sides beingr resilient, andjoined together at oneend,v a frame having tr'o sides'. the inner edges of said sides beingjoined each to a free end of vthe handle, the' outer edges'opposite andparallel to the said.v inner edgeshaving each a Hrow-of teeth forseating the edges of the -blade thereon, lips formed on the corners forgripping the, blade` and a slide ring mount-ed on'the handle adapted tohe pushed up vthe handle to vlose (he parts to bring the, lips in,spring pressed engagement with the blade; Y

in 'u safety razor, a holder fora doubleedged blade comprising 'zrhandlel having tivo sides, the two sides being "resilient, 'and joinedtogether at one end, a frame having two sides, the inner edges of saidsides ing joined eaeh'to n free end of the handle, the outer edgesopposite and parallel tothe sairlinner edges having each-a-row ot' teethfor seating the edges of the blade'thereon, aud lips` 'formed on theeorners'rfor gripping theblade. v ,Y

6. In a safety razor, a'holder'foria double-A edged blade comprising ahandle having' two sides, the tivo sides being -resilient,and

joined together V'at one; end,..and ,ir-frame having two sides, theinner' edges of-said sides-being joined each to a free-end of thehandles' the o uter edges opposite vand paralel'tol the said inner edgesli'aving'eaeh: a row .of teeth for seating theedges ofthe blade thereon,lips formed 'ontheeorners for gripping the blade, and means operatingthe handle 4for adjusting the frame to bring the lips in `spring pressedengagement iv-ith theblade. N

7j ln a safety razor, a [holder for a double-edgeil Ablade Comprising ahandle, a

franievliaving' Atwo sides connected vto the Y handle and resilientlylmounted vrelative to each othen'the outer-'ledge of each of the sideshaving each a ro-w of. teeth; forminga guard-,iandvlips forme-:lon thecorners of the sides for gripping the blade. Y

S. lni razor, a blade having oppositely disposed cutting edges, a frame.member prov vided with guard ortiQnS, and means for securing the bladein place with its cutting edges adjacent the viiard portions, saidseeuving means comprising oppositely disposed devices arranged to engagethe blade at opposite. separated points to leave the eutA Y 10. In arazorfthe combinatln of@ member provided with e guard prtion'Lir Yblade, means carried by the frame mmbelii,"

and arranged to engage the-blade at t'cot' ner portions only, some. ofsaid means beingf' movable in a path parallel with thelane';AV

o; owned@ tg* of the blade to removably secure/the lade I with itscutting edge in proximity to the* guard portion,

11. In a. razor, the Combinationivfith bldd'; i i

of rectangular formation providedlivithxtwo' parallel cutting edges,ofa' framnomprisingf two members` movable onerelaj ve Ato vfth'e other,there being an elasti'call'y yieldable conf.'

nection between suoli Amembers',feafch of. the

members being-provided ivitli a plortioneoni stituting a gna rd fo'r oneoftheQutting-edge:

of the blade; engaging 'members carried-bf; each of theframemembers.andiloeatedin' position for blade at'tlie ends Voi? the{eiittiiigil edges;- for'.

engaging theeorne's fof, vthe'.` 100 holding the blade inproper"-positi'nrelative v to the guard.

12. in, a razor, the. comifi-ntibni'ixvfiiiia "f f. blade having tivo.parallel ciittingfedgesand" transi-'erselyY disposed ends, off, frameoomprising two members movable one' in ies'peet of the other, eaeh of.said'framer-inembers being provided with a blade'z supporting" guard forone of the 'ciitting'='e hindi', a pair of engaging' m liv each of theframe meinhei` dges 'ot ,the ers earned eated in position for engagingone' cornerf Y of tlr:` blade for holding this-in prope'rp'ositionrelative to the supporting ".giiard`of suehfraine member. A 13.' ln arazor, the 'combination' 'Aivitlra blade of rectangular formation, ofafframe tive lo th'e other. one of the members 'being provided with aportie-n constituting agiiarfd for the cutting edge of the blade,positiow ing meml'iers Carried h 'v the frame and loeat'ed in positionfor'eigi'oging the- ,corne-rs of' the blade for holding this in properposition relative to the: ing members lying par said endn'ise movement,som-eA of'siid" positioning members being carried by boeit-if saidYframemembers and Some of said; poitionig;

na rd said position xliaily in the path of ondwise movement of thebladeJ to obstruct minprising tis-'o members movable onerela-` membersbring carried by the other of said frame members for releasably holdingthe blade in the frame and adjacent the guard.

dryln a razor, the combination with a frame, having means for Supportingthe cutting edge of a rectangular blade and means for supporting therear edge thereof,

and positioning members carried by the franie'and located, in position,one for engaging each. corner of the razor blade and said positioningmembers lying` partially in the patli of endu'ise movement of the bladeto obstruct said -eudivise movement, and means for moving two of saidcornerI engaging vinen'il'ieis toward the other tw-o for prevent-ingedgewise moven'ient of the blade, either longitudinally or laterally.

` ln a safety razor the combination u'ith a pair of frame members onemovable toward and from the other, eacli being provided with a suitablebearing surface, and a pair of blade engaging i'neinbers mounted oneach-frame member adjacent. the bearing surface and each disposed :it anangle of about forty-tive degrees to the path of frame-member movementto lie partially in the path of endwise movement of the blade toobstruct said endwise movement, the inward faces of diagonallyAvopposite blad" engaging members being disposed onl substantiallyparallel planes.

lll. lin la safetyl razor the combination with a pair of frame membersone movable toirard and `from tlie other, cach being'provided withasuitable bearing surface, and a pair of blade engaging members mountedon each frame member adjacent tl'iebearing surface and each disposed :atan angle of' about forty-live degrees to the pathof tramenicnibermovement. tbe inward faces of diagonally opposite blade .engagingmembers being disi'iosed on substantially parallel planos, saideiligaging,members being pro- `"ided with port-ions loroveilyiiig theouter surface of the blade.

1.7. ln a raxor, the combination with a blade lim-'ing tivo parallelcutting edges and transversely disposed ends, of a .frame comprising twomembersl movable one in respect of the other. oaoli of the frame membersbeing provided with a suitable bca ring surface, and one of the frame-'mci'nbers being provid-fd wit-li a portion adjacent tothcbearingsurf-.ire constituting n guai'd, for one of the cutting cdgesof theblade, a pair of engag ing members carried by each of, theAfraniemembers and each locatediu position fojr engagingV one. corner of theblade for holding this in proper position relativctothe bearing surfaceand guard of suc'u frame inenibor. said engaging members lying partiallvin the path oi cnd'u'isc movement of thc blade to obstruct said end isc.movement.`

l 18. ln a safety raf/.or the combination with a blade having twoparallel cutting edges,

transversely disposed ends and frustrated corners uniting the edges andthe ends, of an engaging member for each said corner, and means forelastically' pressing two of said engaging members toward the other twoof said engaging members, said engaging members lying partially in thepath of endwise movement of the blade to obstruct said endwise movement.

19. In a safety razor, a frame comprising portions constituting a pairof guards for the cutting edges of a double-edged blade, and supportingmeans for supporting a blade in proper position relative to said guards-and comprising 'off-set members formed with means locatedin position toengage the'blade at points adjacent to and beyond the cutting edgesthereof vfor securing the. same in place relative to the guards.

20. In a safety razor the Icombination of a frame comprising two partsand elastic means connecting these, each of said parts having aportion'constituting a guard for the cutting edge of afblade and bladeclam ping means, overlying theouteinface of the blade, the bladeclamping means on each part being cooperative with the blade clampv ingmeans on the other part.

21. In a safety `razor, the combination with a pair. of guards one forcachiedge of a double edged blade, each-guard having a bearing surfacefor engaging theblade inwardly of each guard, and engaging membersengaging 4tlieyblade at each corner and located in position to exposeboth cutting edges and both ends.' v

22. In a'safety razor the combination with a razor blade having a pairof substantially parallel edges one of snchedges being a cutting edge,and a pair of transversely disposed edges, of a support for'v engagingflat `face of the Vblade finwardly of its cutting edge, a. guard for thesaid cutting edge of the blade associated with said support, apositioning member located at each cud of the guard, each positioningmember being located in position to resist outward longitudinal ortransverse movement. of the corner of the blade engaged thereby, asnpport for the face of the blade at its odge opposite its cutting edge,and a positioning member located at cach end of said support, eachpositioning member being located in position to resist outwardlongitudinal or transverse movement of the corner of the bladil engagedthereby.

' 23. ln safety razor the combination uitli a razor blade having a pairof subst-autialliY parallel edges one ofsucli edges brin,- r :i ruttingedge, and a pair of trausi-'erscl vAdis-` posed edges, of a guard forthe cutting edge of the blade, a positioning member located at each endofthe guard, moans for sup porting the other edge of the blade.1 anelastically yieldable connection between the guardand support and aposmoning meinber located at each end of the guard and at each end ofthe Supml't each of seid meni- ,liers being located in position toresist 5 movement of the corner of the blade engaged thereby in alongitudinal or in a transverse direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this twentiethday of February, 1905.

KING C. GILLETTE. Witnesses E. D. CHADWICK, JOSEPH T. BRENzsAN.

